yellowstone

Hide Hunters Explained

This account is about just a couple of men, when often times the hunter groups were much larger and could contain up to several teams in one camp. It explains how they did things and why. It puts a more human side to try and understand “how could they?” Make no mistake, so often the act of hide hunting was very cruel, you can read the stories as I have, through the years.  Forsyth wrote: “Thus for centuries they lived in peace and contentment. But alas for the Buffalo, his woolly hide was worth about three dollars in money. The … Read more

1904

<< Previous  Next>>  C.A. Kendrick Buffalo At Water / The Destruction of the Bison: An Environmental History, 1750–1920 By Andrew C. Isenberg (extract) Although some ranchers continued to experiment with crossbreeding bison and cattle well into the 20th century, most found that the way to profit from the bison was to sell them – or more accurately, the right to hunt them – to wealthy sport hunters. In 1902, a rancher in Montana allowed to sport hunters to kill six of his bison bulls – for a price. Later, one of those hunters, Howard Eaton, acquired a number of bison … Read more

1895

<< Previous  Next>> The Wichita Daily Eagle Wichita, Kansas Feb 2 1895 KILLING THE BISON HERDS OF BUFFALO BUTCHERING AND WIPED OUT OF EXISTENCE IN A FEW MONTHS Hundreds of Thousands Slaughtered In a Couple of Years After the Hunting Became General- Story of the Chase and Battle in the Gorge. Before the Northern Pacific railroad had crossed the continent west of the Missouri river this section of the country bounded by that river on the east and the Rockies on the west and stretching from the Platte, in Nebraska, northward to the British line, was the greatest stamping ground … Read more

Texas Bison History

Buffalo Jumps -Texas  Charles Goodnight Bison Herd Pages: 1 2 3 A metal arrow point from a long-ago bison hunt still stuck in a centuries-old bison vertebrae found in the Texas panhandle. http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news/local/bison-skeleton-in-burnet-county-up-to-700-years-ol/npG9K/#modal-8356379   Bison – Buffalo Timeline for Texas   Early: 25-30 million bison on the Plains. 1500’s An estimated 30 to 60 million bison living in North America.1535 – At last the end of 35 days, Coronado determined to send his army home and take a special squad of 20 horsemen  and  go  on  to the wonderful  country  of  which  the  Turk  had  spoken  and  called  Quvsira,  and  which  the  local  … Read more

1912

<< Previous  Next>> The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Jan 14 1912 BROOKLYNITES TAKE LEAD IN GAME PRESERVATION Prof. Franklin Hooper is president of National Bison Association PLAN HERD FOR NEW YORK Many Persons Prominent on Long Island Belong to Society That Fosters Animals. It came out at the annual meeting of the American Bison Society, held at the American Museum of Natural History, in Manhattan, on Thursday last, that as a result of the efforts of the society, the number of bison in existence has increased from 1,300 to 2,750 in a period of four years. Professor Franklin W. Hooper, director … Read more

1906

<< Previous  Next>> / The Virginia Enterprise Virginia Minnesota May 11, 1906 FATE OF EUROPEAN BISON. Revolutions in Russia Cause Decrease in Number of These Animals. An interesting side effect of the rebellion and perhaps revolution of which we. read in Russia is the possible speedy extinction of a species of animal which for many years has been jealously protected by the czar. In times of national peace and contentment, the European bison lives in the imperial forests of Lithuania, presumably unmolested; but whenever there is a rising in Poland and the rebels take to the woods they use this … Read more

1894

<< Previous  Next>> 1894 The Times Philadelphia June 10, 1894 Eating Dog With Indians AN UNCONSCIOUS PARTICIPANT IN A REDSKINS’ FEAST SOME SAVAGE DELICACIES The Indian and the Pig Are About on a Par in Their Appetites for Food Some Palin Truths About the Noble and Nasty Aborigine. “How Koohla? Ho-ho-ha-he-e-e-!” “How Koohla?” These were thus salutations that passed between Red Jacket, the famous Ute chief and myself one noontime, as I rode down the valley toward Rico, on my way from Silverton. The old fellow was seated by a campfire while his two squaws were preparing the noonday meal. … Read more

1886

<< Previous  Next>> 1886 Bison History Buffalo Bill Wild West show c1886 Photo by Sarony~LOC   Two years ago (would be 1886) the United States government foresaw that the buffalo was about to be annihilated, and sent a special commission to secure and preserve for its museum specimens of the race. The intention was at first to capture alive a family of bison and keep them in the National park of the Yellowstone, but there were difficulties in the way. At last, it was decided to preserve specimens by the taxidermist’s art, and five superb samples are now at the … Read more

1885

<< Previous  Next>> / Waukesha Daily Freeman Waukesha Wisconsin Apr 2 1885 GRADUAL EXTINCTION OF THE BUFFALO GATHERING THE BONES OF THE COUNTLESS DEAD FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES The harvest of furs in the Northwest is about it ended, for the buffaloes are on the eve of final extinction. Hunters who are engaged in the business of hunting the buffalo for his hide are returning daily from the ranges on the north and south sides of the Yellowstone river, and report not a bison to be found in a country where they formerly roamed in myriads. Men who have hunted hitherto … Read more

1880

<< Previous  Next>> Nebraska Historical Society c1880’s / / I am guessing these were taken around the 1880’s. Piegan country, again guessing Montana.  They were in a bio for Lee Russell, born in Dawson Ga. Dec. 1867, went to Texas in 1871. Driving his 1st herd to New Mexico at 15 years old and later became a ranch manager driving cattle to Montana.   / / The Osage Country Chronicle Jan 1 1880 Pet Buffalo / / The Inter Ocean July 2 1880 Military Supplies Order Northwest Transportation Co. – shows the price paid for shipping hides from Dickinson, Dak … Read more